If you are in China, there is one big spot that you can't miss -- that spot is the Yunnan province. The landscapes, the localization, the people, and the ease of travel from one place to another makes this province one of backpackers' favorite destinations in China.

Here you will be able to find magnificent peaks that connect to Tibet in the north and plain fields in the south with a few lush jungles in between. From the Yunnan province, you can easily cross the borders to Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar or simply get to Tibet in one of the three most famous routes to arrive in Lhasa.

But the best you can find in this province are the people and the many villages of ethnic minorities that have stopped in time and will be able to delight you and make you wonder how much longer you would like to stay -– probably much more time than you have planned. You will never forget the experience if you try a village hop, with surprises each and every single day. Yunnan has a nice bus network to all major cities and towns with plenty of nice roads and trains connecting to all the nearest provinces.

Yunnan hostels are very traditional, with basic facilities and often with a good cleaning sense. Don't expect communal kitchens but usually, every hostel has a bar or restaurant that can prepare you breakfast and light meals. There are a lot of hostels in Yunnan province, but they are mostly concentrated in urban centers that are used as a base to explore the surroundings. Yunnan hostels provide a good opportunity to get some tips for exploring the entire province!